The Progressive Calendar is a listing of community events for those interested in addressing today’s issues with a progressive mindset; that is with a commitment to social justice, grassroots democracy, ecological wisdom and non-violence.

* South Bend Equality Meeting (gender equality, human rights amendment)
1st and 3rd Monday of each month, 7pm
Unitarian Church on Northshore Blvd in South Bend

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## CITIZEN ACTION COALITION LEGISLATIVE ALERT

The Senate version of HB 1117 contains amendments that added a sham
Renewable Electricity Standard (RES) defining coal and nuclear as
renewable energies. Additional “tracker” amendments in the Senate would
create a potential profiteering bonanza for utility companies at the
expense of all of us who have to pay electric bills.

The underlying coal gasification language in the original version of HB
1117 (which we oppose) was mirrored in SB 223, which passed the Senate
and House without amendment and is now eligible for signature into law
by Governor Daniels.

The conference committee for HB 1117 contains four conferees, made up of
one member from each political party in the House and Senate, who will
attempt to reach agreement on the bill’s final language for ratification
by the full House and Senate. House conferees are Rep. Stilwell and Rep.
Eric Koch (R, Bedford). Senate conferees are Senators Brandt Hershman
(R, Monticello) and James Lewis (D, Charlestown).

For more information on HB 1117 and SB 223, visit our website and read
our most recent legislative update. From there, you can click on the
bill numbers to link to the General Assembly website and read the actual
text of the bill:

After a very long break, we’d love to open our home once again for the
Portage Ave. Salon! Please come Sunday, March 9, from 7-9 for friendly
conversation. Bring your own beverage, a veggie-friendly dish to share,
and friends & family!

We live at 611 Portage Ave. If you need additional directions, please
call 807-1523 or 807-1349.

Warmly, Lily & Karl

PS: A slight caveat: I just had my wisdom teeth removed yesterday so I
may or may not be the most active participant. Karl, however, did not
have his wisdom teeth out so there’s no excuse for him!

## SJVGREENS MARCH MEETING

The SJVGreens now meet the 2nd Monday of each month. The next meeting is
Monday, March 10, in room 2170, Weikamp Hall at IUSB. The meeting is
7:00 – 9:00 pm. Please join us.

## COUNTY ELECTION BOARD MEETING

The St. Joseph County Election Board will meet Wednesday March 12 at
10am in the 4th floor County Council Conference Chambers in the
County-City building located in downtown South Bend.

Two 2007 write-in candidates for municipal offices in South Bend – Tom
Brown and Karl Hardy who ran for Mayor and Common Council At-large,
respectively – plan to request a formal apology from the St. Joseph
County Election Board for their part in problems with both the counting
of legal votes and the treatment of write-in voters.

A third Green write-in candidate, David Vollrath, cannot attend the
Wednesday morning meeting but will prepare a statement to the board as
well. Vollrath ran for a Mishawaka Common Council At-large seat.

The candidates point to election returns that show more than 60% of
machine-recorded write-in votes cast in their races not being attributed
to any candidate. Brown, Hardy, and Vollrath were the only registered
write-in candidates running in the municipal elections and none are
contesting the outcome of the respective races.

Please join the Greens in demanding that all votes are counted and no
voters are disenfranchised.

## SUSTAINABLE MICHIANA DISCUSSION GROUP

The Jordan International Center on the IUSB campus has been the venue
for discussions on sustainability. The Natural Step concept, and the
book of the same name, take a systems approach to sustainability.
Rather than chasing the “leaves” of many environmental problems, The
Natural Step seeks to work from a framework, the “trunk and branches,”
of sustainable principles that are widely agreed on, using them as
criteria for sustainable action. The discussions are open to interested
folks and are a first step in the direction of collaborative action.

Bobbie Wrenn Banks from National WAND is one of the most articulate and
intelligent people we know — especially when it comes to the federal
budget. We are thrilled to announce that she is coming back to Northern
Indiana to present WAND’s Great American Pie Campaign. It’s about
raising awareness of how our federal budget affects our everyday lives,
and the lives of people around the globe. It’s also about know-how,
action and how women have what it takes to turn things around.

~ Thursday, March 13, 7 PM Saint Mary’s College, South Bend.

Banks will be leading the “Faith Seeking Peace” workshop which examines
the federal budget priorities from a religious values perspective.
Moreau Hall, Room 232. Sponsored by the SMC Justice Education Department
along with STAND. Contact: Sierra Campoli, scampo01@saintmarys.edu

1 to 3 PM: Christiana Creek Country Club, Elkhart. WAND of N. Indiana
will host a roundtable of members from women’s groups for the purpose of
networking. “Messages with Wings” is a workshop where participants will
grapple with the art of talking effectively about tough issues such as
the federal budget as our moral checkbook. Refreshments provided, $5.00
Contact Karen Jacob, 574-206-5753; lovekaren55@msn.com

3 to 5 PM: St. Joe County Public Library, South Bend. Redirecting Tax
Dollars Workshop at the Dickenson Room, sponsored by local members of
the National War Tax Resistance Coordinating Committee. Banks will give
a 30 minute presentation starting at 4:30 pm of how to cut the “Great
American Pie.” From 3 to 4:30 the group will discuss war tax resistance
as part of the overall strategy re: opposing the Iraq-Afghani wars.
Contact Peter Smith: psmith@saintmarys.edu

“Can we globalize in ways that treat people fairly and respect the
environment? Why should we try? How can consumers and retailers make
choices that will make a difference? How is certification affecting the
world’s poor, and its lands? Can the lessons from timber and coffee
certification be applied to other products?”

“Compelling stories and characters raise and answer these questions in a
powerful, exquisitely photographed documentary that will get viewers
talking about new ways to make globalization work for all of us.”
— from the BUYER BE FAIR web site

~ Thirst

“THIRST documents how power, politics and money all combine in the
raging international debate about water policy. The underlying issues of
community versus corporate control are remarkably similar whether in
India or the United States. The control of water may be responsible for
more political, economic and even military clashes in the 21st century
than was oil in the 20th.”
— Congressman George Miller (D-7, California)
Former Chair, House Committee on Natural Resources

The films are followed by a group discussion of the issues presented.
These screenings are offered FREE OF CHARGE to the public! Donations (at
the door) are appreciated to help underwrite costs. Join us each Second
Friday of the month for the CSP Film Series!

## ERIK REECE PUBLIC LECTURE ON COAL MINING

On Tuesday, March 18 – Indiana University South Bend is hosting a public
lecture by Erik Reece, author of Lost Mountain: Radical Strip Mining and
the Devastation of Appalachia.

Erik Reece is the author of Lost Mountain, a literary nonfiction work
about the coal industry and radical strip mining. He teaches at the
University of Kentucky. This book is extraordinary in connecting issues
of nature, health, history, poverty, and economic forces.

Since 94% of Indiana’s electricity is generated from coal – this topic
definitely hits home here.

The Sierra Club, the Audubon Society and Citizen Action Coalition have
been active in coal issues in Indiana.

## CFED MEETING

~ LaSalle Square Redevelopment Plan

The planning process has begun. The City has posted a request for
proposals from consultant teams as a first step in the creation of a
redevelopment plan.

A Steering Committee has been formed and will include representatives of
community organizations and businesses with a stake in the
revitalization of LaSalle Square,
including the Community Forum for Economic Development. The first task
of the Steering Committee is to work with the City to review the
proposals for planning services that have been solicited. With the
input provided from this discussion, it is expected that the
Redevelopment Commission will award a contract for planning services at
their March 28 meeting.

~ Third Annual Community Forum on Economic Development

Twenty-three organizations will join us as sponsors of the Forum and
that number is growing daily. The event is planned for Saturday, April
26, from 9 AM to 3 PM at IU South Bend, 1001 Weikamp Hall. Our keynote
address will be by State Representative Ryan Dvorak. Marty Wolfson also
will speak during the morning session. After lunch, two sets of
breakout sessions are planned. Members of many of the sponsoring
organizations are currently developing those breakout sessions. Expect
detailed information soon.

~ March meeting of the Community Forum

The March meeting is a business meeting and will feature a report on the
exciting new projects of our Unity Committee as well as an update on
plans for the Spring Forum and on the progress of the LaSalle Square
revitalization. This meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 18, from
7-9, at the office of the Minority Health Coalition in LaSalle Square.

2 Responses to “Progressive Calendar”

This is a posting of upcoming events for those interested in addressing social issues with a “progressive” mind-set; that is with an eye towards social justice, grassroots democracy, ecological wisdom and non-violence. The Progressive Calendar is compiled by the St Joe Valley Greens/Green Party.